Pakistan to face New Zealand as T20 World Cup Super Eight begins

COLOMBO (Dunya News) – The Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is set to begin tomorrow with Pakistan taking on New Zealand in Colombo.

The high-stakes encounter marks the start of the next phase of the tournament, with both sides aiming to build early momentum. The match is scheduled to begin at 6:30pm local time.

The New Zealand squad held a training session at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo but had to wrap up practice 30 minutes earlier than planned due to rain. Persistent showers and a damp outfield also forced the Pakistan national team to cancel their scheduled three-hour training session at the same venue.

Weather concerns

Rain has also been forecast for match day, raising the possibility of interruptions. Conditions in Colombo have already affected team preparations, with both sides forced to adjust their plans.

New Zealand batter Mark Chapman noted that the toss could play a significant role given the prevailing conditions. He added that Sri Lankan pitches often favour spin bowlers, which could influence team strategies.

Spin factor

Chapman acknowledged Pakistan’s strength in the spin department, suggesting that slow bowlers could prove decisive. He also contrasted the surfaces with those in India, where pitches were more batting-friendly.

With weather uncertainty and pitch behaviour both in focus, the opening Super Eight fixture is expected to test adaptability as much as skill.

SQUADS

New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell (c), Cole McConchie, James Neesham, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, Devon Conway, Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Khawaja Nafay, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Naseem Shah